House passes campaign-disclosure bill

Among groups exempted are labor unions, NRA

by David Espo - Jun. 25, 2010 12:00 AMAssociated Press

WASHINGTON - Four months before midterm elections, the Democratic-controlled House approved new limitations on the political activity of outside interest groups Thursday after carving out exemptions that benefit the National Rifle Association as well as labor unions and numerous federal contractors.

The vote was 219-206 on the legislation that Democrats trumpeted as a move to bring fuller disclosure to shadowy campaign ads and that Republicans attacked as an unconstitutional restriction on free speech. Arizona Democrats Gabrielle Giffords, Raśl Grijalva, Ann Kirkpatrick and Ed Pastor voted for the bill. Republicans Jeff Flake, Trent Franks and John Shadegg voted against the bill, as did Democrat Harry Mitchell.

In a statement, President Barack Obama praised the bill, although he said, "I would have preferred that it include no exemptions." He urged quick action in the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid has pledged to seek a vote. Strong Republican opposition makes its prospects uncertain.

Organizations as diverse as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Chamber of Commerce opposed it. The NRA was officially neutral. The AFL-CIO took no position after bargaining hard for undisclosed changes, while Democracy 21, a group that seeks to limit the influence of big money in politics, urged its enactment.

But Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, responding for Republicans, said the Democrats' true goal was to "use their majority here in the House to silence their political opponents pure and simple, for just one election."